Refrigeration apparatus constructing method, and refrigeration apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus utilizes a separation membrane to separate and eliminate a noncondensable gas from a refrigerant inside a refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration apparatus has a gas separation apparatus. The gas separation apparatus includes a separation membrane apparatus connected to a liquid side refrigerant circuit that connects a heat source side heat exchanger and a utilization side heat exchanger. The separation membrane apparatus has a separation membrane that separates from the refrigerant and discharges out of the liquid side refrigerant circuit the noncondensable gas remaining in a refrigerant connecting pipe.

1 . A method of constructing a refrigeration apparatus, comprising: 
 forming a refrigerant circuit by connecting a heat source unit and a utilization unit to a refrigerant connecting pipe; and    discharging a noncondensable gas by operating a compressor of the heat source unit to circulate a refrigerant inside the refrigerant circuit, by using a membrane to separate the noncondensable gas remaining inside the refrigerant connecting pipe from the refrigerant flowing between a heat source side heat exchanger of the heat source unit and a utilization side heat exchanger of the utilization unit, and by discharging the noncondensable gas out of the refrigerant circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 installing the heat source unit, the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization unit prior to the forming of the refrigerant circuit.    
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger is a vapor-liquid separated gas refrigerant that is separated into a liquid refrigerant and a gas refrigerant containing the noncondensable gas, and the noncondensable gas is separated from the vapor-liquid separated gas refrigerant.    
   
   
       4 . The method refrigeration as recited in  claim 3 , wherein 
 the noncondensable gas is released into an atmosphere.    
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing a seal test on the refrigerant connecting pipe before discharging the noncondensable gas; and    reducing a pressure by releasing a sealed gas inside the refrigerant connecting pipe into the atmosphere after performing the seal test.    
   
   
       6 . A refrigeration apparatus comprising: 
 a gas separation apparatus including a separation membrane connected to a liquid side refrigerant circuit configured to connect a heat source side heat exchanger and a utilization side heat exchanger, the separation membrane being configured to separate from a refrigerant and discharge out of the liquid side refrigerant circuit a noncondensable gas remaining inside a refrigerant connecting pipe by operating a compressor and circulating the refrigerant inside the liquid side refrigerant circuit.    
   
   
       7 . The refrigeration apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein 
 the liquid side refrigerant circuit includes a receiver configured to accumulate the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger, and    the gas separation apparatus is connected to the receiver, and is configured to separate the noncondensable gas contained in a gas phase of the refrigerant that is accumulated in an upper part of the receiver.    
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein 
 the gas separation apparatus further includes a discharge valve configured to release the noncondensable gas into the atmosphere after separation.    
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger is a vapor-liquid separated gas refrigerant that is separated into a liquid refrigerant and a gas refrigerant containing the noncondensable gas, and the noncondensable gas is separated from the vapor-liquid separated gas refrigerant.    
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the noncondensable gas is released into an atmosphere.    
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising 
 performing a seal test on the refrigerant connecting pipe before discharging the noncondensable gas; and    reducing a pressure by releasing a sealed gas inside the refrigerant connecting pipe into the atmosphere after performing the seal test.    
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising 
 performing a seal test on the refrigerant connecting pipe before discharging the noncondensable gas; and    reducing a pressure by releasing a sealed gas inside the refrigerant connecting pipe into the atmosphere after performing the seal test.    
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising 
 performing a seal test on the refrigerant connecting pipe before discharging the noncondensable gas; and    reducing a pressure by releasing a sealed gas inside the refrigerant connecting pipe into the atmosphere after performing the seal test.